EXCLUSIVE: £81K Theft Barrister is STILL PRACTISING While On Bail Awaiting Sentencing

A barrister awaiting sentencing after admitting stealing £81,500 from his former chambers represented a client two days ago in Bradford Crown Court, Legal Cheek can exclusively reveal.

Earlier this month, on Thursday 12 January, David Friesner (pictured) was told by a judge to expect a “substantial” prison sentence, and handed unconditional bail until 10 February. Yet on Wednesday Friesner represented Jack Henry – a businessman who duped householders into paying to cut their council tax bills – in a sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court.

Despite Friesner pleading guilty to the main charge against him at his trial on 12 January, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has delayed commencing its disciplinary procedures against him until his prosecution has been fully concluded, leaving the disgraced barrister free to continue practising as a sole-practitioner until he is sentenced.

Friesner has operated in this way since leaving Nine St John Street Chambers in 2009 amid the allegations of theft. The police investigation against him began in July 2010, with Friesner first appearing before magistrates to face charges in March 2011. A spokesperson for the BSB said: “It is standard procedure to delay commencing our disciplinary procedures until the final verdict in a case has been issued by the criminal courts.”

Friesner’s decision to continue practising in the run-up to his sentencing next month is believed to be unusual for a barrister convicted of a crime, and may lead to questions as to why the BSB failed to invoke an interim suspension order against him.

8 Comments

One has to query what the hell the BSB is for if it failed to suspend Friesner from practice in this case (following an unequivocal guilty plea). It appears more than happy to impose suspensions in other, more piffling cases (such as those involving problems with CPD completion) but fails to take action against people who have, y’know, broken the law. I think it’s a disgrace, personally; what more do the BSB’s disciplinary panel want than a guilty plea?

[…] Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland will call for the closing of a “ridiculous loophole” – exclusively revealed by Legal Cheek on Friday – that allowed a barrister who is awaiting sentencing for theft to represent a client in […]

Mr hales comments on david friesner arebill founded this man entered into an iva for over 1.3 million recently because he led a fantasy life driving a ferrari, porsche, range rover ect…. All on credit. He has duped members of the bar into lending him money and has caused distresss and misery.he had the nerve notvto pay his tax or his chambers expenses for many years.he is a disgrace.Tuckers in manchester instruct him….. I wonder if their clients know…